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Top 10 snowiest ski resorts - Europe

Snowfall averages can be fun to compare but should be treated with caution, especially in Europe. This is partly because most alpine readings are taken at resort level and are not always
representative of conditions higher up. (Some Alpine resorts have vertical drops of over 2000m).

On average, North American resorts have smaller vertical drops, and most readings are taken up the mountain in areas that are more representative of the ski area as a whole.

That aside, snowfall is only one part of the complex snow quality equation. You only have to look at our “Top 10 snowiest ski resorts" in
Europe to see that only two of them actually make ourTop 10 snow-sure ski resorts in
Europe.

Why? Most of the snowiest ski resorts in the Alps are close to the northern foothills, and are more vulnerable to the warming influence of the Atlantic. Obergurgl, for example, gets less than half the snowfall of Warth-Schröcken, but offers more consistent snow quality due to its superior altitude,
and more sheltered position set deep within the Alps.

1. Warth-Schröcken, Austria

Resort height:

1270-1500m

Slopes:

1270-2050m

Pistes:

66km

﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿Warth and Schröcken share the snowiest ski area in Europe, with a seasonal average of
10.5m. Other nearby villages are also super-snowy, such as Damüls, which gets over 9m a season and markets itself as the
"snowiest village in the world".

Whichever village comes out top, there is no doubt that this little corner of Austria is the snowiest region in the Alps.

3. Damüls, Austria

Resort height:

1430m

Slopes:

700-2010m

Pistes:

105km

Photo: Karl-Rudolf Huber

With a snowfall average of well over 9m,Damüls vies with Warth-Schröcken for the title of
snowiest village in the Alps.

In 2005 it even declared itself the snowiest village in the world, but this was based on just seven years of data and longer term figures suggest that both Zürs and Warth-Schröcken are marginally ahead.

4. Braunwald, Switzerland

Resort height:

1255m

Slopes:

1255-1900m

Pistes:

32km

The tiny resort of Braunwald south-east of Zurich has an exceptional snowfall average of nearly 9m, more than any other Swiss ski
resort.

Not far away, the equally tiny resort of Stoos is almost as snowy.

5. Obertauern, Austria

Resort height:

1740m

Slopes:

1630-2315m

Pistes:

100km

Photo: Tourismusverband Obertauern

﻿﻿Long term records reveal a snowfall average in Obertauern of nearly 8m.

7. La Rosière, France

Resort height:

1850m

Slopes:

1175-2610m

Pistes:

160km

With an average snowfall of 6.4m a season, La Rosière is the snowiest ski resort in the Tarentaise. This is explained by its
exposed position perpendicular to storms funnelling up the valley from the west.

8. Arosa, Switzerland

Resort height:

1740m

Slopes:

1800-2655m

Pistes:

70km

Most high Swiss ski resorts (such as St Moritz and Saas-Fee) are in the relatively dry southern Swiss Alps.

Arosa is one of the few high resorts that is in the wetter "north" (albeit only just) and is the snowiest major resort in Switzerland, with a seasonal
average of 6.2m.

9. Tignes, France

Resort height:

2100m

Slopes:

1550-3455m

(1550-3455m - Espace Killy)

Pistes:

150km

(300km - Espace Killy)

Photo: M. Dalmasso

Like neighbouring Val d'Isere, Tignes can get significant snow from storms of both Atlantic and Mediterranean origin. This
gives it the edge on snowfall over nearby resorts of similar height (Arc 2000, La Plagne) with a seasonal average of
6.2m.